Acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said the problems affecting the Doicesti small modular reactor project stem from the way Nuclearelectrica managed the funds allocated to it, not from any issue related to the Romania - U.S. strategic partnership.

His remarks follow accusations by Social Democrat Chairman Sorin Grindeanu, who claimed Bolojan was jeopardising the strategic partnership through his stance on the project.

Bolojan said the Doicesti project appears to be heading toward a situation in which 'a large amount of money has been allocated with limited results', but stressed that this has no connection to the bilateral strategic relationship with the U.S., or to the transfer of nuclear technologies to Romania.

He also pointed to the Iernut power plant as another project with long-standing implementation problems now close to resolution. The plant, launched a decade ago and initially scheduled for completion in three years, saw its contractor withdraw twice - the second time due to bankruptcy - before Romgaz took over the project directly. Bolojan said the facility is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

He drew a parallel between the two cases, noting that both involve major delays, management failures, and significant economic consequences. At Iernut, he said, the decade-long delay generated 'enormous losses' due to the absence of new generation capacity, repeated price adjustments and unresolved equipment-guarantee issues.

Regarding Doicesti, Bolojan highlighted several critical points: the over USD 240 million in Nuclearelectrica financing extended to the project company; a feasibility study delivered without secured financing for construction; a project partner facing financial-capacity problems; land purchased at a price significantly above the initial acquisition cost; neighbourhood-related constraints affecting the site.

He said these elements constitute 'very serious issues', while rejecting the characterisation of the project as an 'adventure'.

Bolojan argued that when a project with potential implications for a strategic partner shows clear signs of difficulty, transparency is essential, and that informing the partner of the problems is consistent with the principles of trust and seriousness underpinning the bilateral relationship.

He added that the situation at Doicesti reflects broader shortcomings in Romania's energy sector, including missed investments and mismanaged projects, despite the availability of substantial funding. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Florea; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)

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